Psa 115:1-2 | KD | STEP | This Psalm, which has scarcely anything in common with the preceding Psalm except that the expression “house of Jacob,” , is here broken up into its several members in Psa 115:12., is found joined with it, making one Psalm, in the lxx, Syriac, Arabic and Aethiopic versions, just as on the other hand Ps 116 is split up into two. This arbitrary arrangement condemns itself. Nevertheless Kimchi favours it, and it has found admission into not a few Hebrew manuscripts. It is a prayer of Israel for God’s aid, probably in the presence of an expedition against heathen enemies. The two middle strophes of the four are of the same compass. Ewald’s conjecture, that whilst the Psalm was being sung the sacrifice was proceeded with, and that in the voice of a priest proclaims the gracious acceptance of the sacrifice, is pleasing. But the change of voices begins even with , as Olshausen also supposes.

‏ Psalms 115:1-2

Call to the God of Israel, the Living God, to Rescue the Honour of His Name

This Psalm, which has scarcely anything in common with the preceding Psalm except that the expression “house of Jacob,” Psa 114:1, is here broken up into its several members in Psa 115:12., is found joined with it, making one Psalm, in the lxx, Syriac, Arabic and Aethiopic versions, just as on the other hand Ps 116 is split up into two. This arbitrary arrangement condemns itself. Nevertheless Kimchi favours it, and it has found admission into not a few Hebrew manuscripts.

It is a prayer of Israel for God’s aid, probably in the presence of an expedition against heathen enemies. The two middle strophes of the four are of the same compass. Ewald’s conjecture, that whilst the Psalm was being sung the sacrifice was proceeded with, and that in Psa 115:12 the voice of a priest proclaims the gracious acceptance of the sacrifice, is pleasing. But the change of voices begins even with Psa 115:9, as Olshausen also supposes. Psa 115:1-2

It has to do not so much with the honour of Israel, which is not worthy of the honour (Eze 36:22.) and has to recognise in its reproach a well-merited chastisement, as with the honour of Him who cannot suffer the reproaching of His holy name to continue long. He willeth that His name should be sanctified. In the consciousness of his oneness with this will, the poet bases his petition, in so far as it is at the same time a petition on behalf of Israel, upon God’s cha'ris and alee'theia as upon two columns. The second על, according to an express note of the Masora, has no Waw before it, although the lxx and Targum insert one. The thought in Psa 115:2 is moulded after Psa 79:10, or after Joe 2:17, cf. Psa 42:4; Mic 7:10. איּה־נא is the same style as נגדּה־נּא in Psa 116:18, cf. in the older language אל־נא, אם־נא, and the like.